Improvement in fence-posts



;' OLATLEN; Fence-Post.

No. 204 275. Patented May 28. 1878.

I shalltown, Marshall county,

PATENT ()FFIQE.

OSCAR ALLEN,

or MARSHALLTOWN, IOWA, ASSIGNOR or oiynnntrnis 1 RIGHT TO W. E. SARGENT,OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IVN FENCE-POSTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 204,275, dated May 28,1878; application filed November 6, 1877.

110 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OsoAR ALLEN, of Mar- Iowa, have invented certain newand useful "Improvements relating to Fence-Posts, of

which the following is a specification;

My improved post is of metal, and is adapted to serve either with wiresor'with boards below and wires above, as is frequently required forturning hogs. I propose to produce the posts in proper lengths bymachineryready to be inserted into suitable bases, or, if preferred, canform each.

wlith a sufficient length to stand in the ground a one. I

My post has a flat body and a flange standing at right angles therefrom,making the section a T. This flange is provided with a straight notch,slot, or passage,leading-,into a curved branch passage extending aboveand below the straight slot, the wire being introduced into the straightslot and forced into the curved branch, where it is securely held, andthis construction of slots in the flange of the post to hold thewiresforms the main feature of my invention, the boards attached by staplesto the lower part of the fence-posts for turning small animals forming aconstruction of parts old in itself. 7

When boards are applied to the lower part of the fence to turn hogs orsmall animals, wires being applied to the upper part of the post, theyare held against the body and abut their ends against the flange.

Straps are provided, which apply in holes in the body, to hold theboards through the aid of nuts or keys. When wires are applied, theyarelet into peculiarly-formed notches in the flange. They may be held withsufficient force for most purposes by their simple engagement in thenotches; but I provide for holding them further by metal fastenin gsinserted in holes provided.

The following is a description of what I consider the best means ofcarrying out the invention.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a face view of the post alone.

in the State of Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the same. Fig. 3represents a portion with a board in place. V

Fig. 4 represents a portion with a wire in place.

Fig. 5 represents the same on a larger scale,-

with the addition of athick coat of paint or the like applied after thewire is in place, and which aids to retain it. v

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in all the figures.

A is a cast-iron base, formed with wings, and pointed to allow-of beingdriven, accordingto a long-approved pattern. The upper end of the baseis so'cketed in a suitable platform to receive the body, which may befirmly secured by melted sulphur or analogous cementing means, ifdesired.

The body of the post is marked B, and the flange B. Holes b are punchedor otherwise produced atproper distances in the body, and apeculiarly-formed notch or deep incision with branches is formed in theflange 'B, as indicated. by-m m m This notch may be'formed by any meanswhich will not weaken the remairiing iron. Ipropose, for example, toeffect it by punching at two operations, holding the iron firinly on asuitable female die and This can be readily effected while the iron allaround is intact.

punching out the part m m.

Afterward I shift the iron onto another support or female die, and theconnecting-incision mis then produced by another punch adapted to makethe straight out required.

Small holes 10 are produced at the same or adifferent time, which, afterthe main wire of the fence is inserted in the notch, may receive astaple, t, which may be secured by bending the protruding ends.

M is one of the main wires of the fence. In ordinary situations it dropsby gravity into the lower part m of the peculiar notch. On the top of ahill or knoll it is drawn down there very tightly; but in a hollowtightlydrawn wireis liable to lift, and will lie the most part of thetime in the upper part m In either situation it is liable, in gales ofwind or when acted on by any animal, to be lifted, and to shift from theextreme of the part on to the extreme of the part m and back again.

The form of the notch allows it to make these movements many timeswithout any tendency toescape through the lateral part m. But to guardagainst a possibility of such failures, I provide the fastener t.

D represents one of the boards, and E a bent piece of small iron,serving as a strap. The board being held firmlyin its place, the strapsE may be made to engage in two of the holes b, and driven forcibly home.It may be retained there by bending the projecting ends of the strap E.If it be desired to hold it more elaborately, the straps E may bethreaded and made to receive nuts, as indicated by G, or maybeperforated and made to receive keys, as indicated by H.

The above described means of attaching boards to a fence-post is common,and is employed by me to attach boards to the lower parts of the postsof a wire fence for the purpose of turning hogs and small animals.

It is important that the mode of attaching the wire to the post does notrequire the wire to be bent or slackened in any wise. All that isnecessasy to engage my wire is to push it laterally through the part mand to allow it to sink into the part at or rise into the part m. Theclip or fastening t being then applied, the wire is very safely secured.

The parts m m are preferably only a very little wider than the main wireM, which they are to receive, and of uniform width throughout. A gentleforce will suflice to push the forth.

wireM into its place in the extreme bottom of the part m or top of thepart m, and it may then be very efl'ectually secured by touching with asolution of sal-ammoniac, which will induce asufiicient rusting of theadjacent surfaces to prevent the wire from ever returning.

The preferable mode of attaining the same end is to paint the post withany thick, cheap paint, or to coat with coal-tar or melted asphalt, orthe like.

In Fig. 5 the clip t is omitted, showing what I believe may be generallypracticed with absolute. security when the bending is properly done.

The paint or coal-tar obviously increases the durability of the fence.

Many modifications may be made inthe de-,

ends of the recesses m m avoid the tendency to break the iron which isincident to the em ployment of sharp angles.

When it is desired to employ one of my posts to support the middle ofthe length of boards, I turn the .post around and cause it to presentits flat face against the boards, and then secure the boards therein bythe straps E and their nuts or keys, as will be obvious. In using mypost with wires, I present only the narrow edge of the flange B thereto.The narrowness of the bearing is important in the use of barbed wire,because it diminishes the chances that a barb will come in contact withthe post. I

The union of the base with the post may be formed,i f desired, in theact of casting the base, the molding in such case receiving the lowerend of the wrought-iron part, and the melted iron flowing around it, andthereby uniting strongly therewith I claim as my inventi0n 1. Animproved metallic fence-post having the flange B, provided with theslots m m m, formed as shown, and for the purpose set 2. An improvedmetallic fence-post having the flange B, provided with the slots m m m,formed as shown, and staples t, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my name in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

OSCAR N.

